Three Pakistani nationals have been arrested in a suspected cosmetic contraband raid by the Consumer Affairs Authority of Sri Lanka (CAA) yesterday

“The three suspects were arrested while they were handling uncertified, unknown type of a ‘cream’ to be sold in the market as “skin care cream”. They were packing the ‘cream’ to small tubs when our officials raided them”  Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, under whom CAA falls, during his discussion with his top officials earlier today.

“I am told that the cream they were packing did not say what the “cream” was, had no labels, had no indication of where it was manufactured, no listing of contents within the cream and no documentary proofs. CAA immediately decided that the stock was illegal” added Minister Bathiudeen.

The illegal ‘packing operation’ took place at Moor Street, Colombo 12 yesterday, run by the three Pakistani suspects when the CAA officials caught them red-handed. The suspects were packing a “skin care” cream along with 3500 product labels while parcels of empty tubs were kept close-by. 

CAA officials and its Chairman Lalith Senaweera suspect that the contraband was being packed to be sent to the market ahead of the forthcoming Avurudu/New-year seasonal promotions.

CAA also took into custody 7500 skin whitening soaps, 15 litres of skin cream, 250 cakes of soap labelled “Golden”, and 3000 nail polish packs; -all of which were not certified/tested dermatologically –They had no labels, no indication of where they originate, nor listing of any product contents.